On Your Farm

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Getting to the heart of country life with a look at individual farming endeavours

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On Your Farm: Zimbabwean Insects

Zimbabwean Insects

BBC Radio 4 - On Your Farm, Zimbabwean Insects

Meet insect farmer and pioneer for women in agriculture, Esnath Divasoni.

Esnath Divasoni farms insects in Zimbabwe. Charlotte Ashton meets this pioneer who is eager to promote the role of women in African agriculture.

In much of rural Zimbabwe meat is a very rare treat. Three consecutive years of record low rainfall and a devastating economic crisis have left almost half the population food insecure. In many communities there isn't enough grain for humans, let alone animals. 

Esnath Divasoni works for a charity in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, and in her spare time breeds crickets at her parents' small farm. She is convinced these low-fat, high-protein insects, containing important vitamins, minerals and macro-nutrients, could significantly improve the nation's diet. Cheap and easy to produce, they could also be an invaluable source of income for women farmers - and their carbon footprint is almost zero. What's not to love? 

Charlotte Ashton visits Esnath and her family for a tour of the farm - and a lunch of crickets - to find out.

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